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Upcoming iOS 7 APIs: Gaming Improvements, Multitasking Support, AirDrop, and More
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Admittedly, I was being a bit hyperbolic with my statement about killing off the Xbox and Playstation. I neglected to mention Nintendo since, from what I hear, the Wii U has been an absolute bomb. And I don't know how they're going to come back from that.
You make some valid points. I agree that the threat will initially be to the handheld gaming systems.
But I also suspect we might even see a revised AppleTV this fall with different storage capacity - or possibly even different models. Also, we have yet to see how they are going to implement iOS 7 on the Apple TV.
Also, I don't think Apple will pursue the "hard-core" gaming market. I think they are more likely to take a holistic multimedia approach that gives all apps - games or non-games - equal treatment.
My last console was a Wii. Before that, it was a GameBoy (that pretty much got hijacked by my mother). And before that...an Atari 2600. So I definitely don't fall into the hard-core gaming market.
iOS already has inter-app audio, sort of. It's actually by way of an app called Audiobus, and it works really, really well. However it looks like the new "Inter-app Audio" API may have Sherlocked it.
What happened to the third-party keyboard rumors? I thought Swiftkey was making noises about coming to iOS.
In my experience, the lack of good keyboard options is the biggest complaint (bigger than screen size and true multitasking) from multi mobile OS users.
The iOS keyboard is primitive and truly sucks.
In my experience, the lack of good keyboard options is the biggest complaint (bigger than screen size and true multitasking) from multi mobile OS users.
The iOS keyboard is primitive and truly sucks.
That's pretty subjective. I think the iOS keyboard is one of the best, with perhaps on the Z10's being a little better. I've yet to try an Android keyboard I've liked better. YMMV, as with any opinion.
That is the funniest thing I have heard this week.
iOS gaming is no comparison to real gaming such as Xbox and PS3/4. I use iOS games to pass the time, I fire-up the Sony when I want to play real games.
Furthermore, Apple cannot even manage decent gaming on a Mac, so no point even going there.
game controllers would be awesome, apple has really brought great new things at this year's WWDC. keep on doing that apple!
It's not called "real gaming" but rather "haughty gaming," and it's not for mere mortals.
Oh, ffs, let's not go down that silly and pointless road.
Recently, I started using AirPlay and found some of the games are really well suited for mirroring to the ATV (some are not!), and though some of the games have graphics that don't mirror well and look worse than the basic games I play on my PS3, some of them actually look very good with AirPlay Mirroring, I am rather impressed.
I'll keep my PS3 (and upgrade to a PS4, but I'm trying not to get too excited because I'm so impatient!) and enjoy my games on it, but with a proper iOS controller I can see myself pulling out an iOS device and AirPlay mirroring (or running native on the ATV hopefully at some point) quite a lot when I'm not patient enough to boot up my PS console and load up a game there. I'm sure others might feel the same??
There's a natural limit to what console gaming will be able to achieve in the future, and they don't have far to go to get there (they're pretty awesome already). The difference between where they are today and the iOS style of games behind them is a much greater distance than where consoles are today vs what is possible tomorrow, but the iOS style of games is accelerating rapidly and closing that gap. I think you'll find that in the not too distant future that these iOS games have capabilities that are so close to console games as to be nearly the same (or exactly the same). That's the nature of technology. And when that day arrives today's "real" gamers will sit around talking about the past like a bunch of old white wealthy bitties sitting around a canasta table with crustless cucumber sandwiches reminiscing about the old days when their servants were of a certain colour and knew their proper place in the world. ;-)
Mirroring to my ATV on a 60" screen looks poor and is a clumsy and limited interface in which to game. It is like going back to 800 x 600 resolution at times.
Surely if you take the time to sit in front of a TV and mirror play, you would be better in front of the PS3? Each to their own I suppose.
You lost me with the servants, cucumber sandwiches and people of colour..
Anyway, I think deep down you know and agree that iOS gaming is convenience gaming for passing the time, as you say "I'm not patient enough to boot up my PS console and load up a game there."
Perhaps it is subjective, but since Apple does not allow other options, iOS users simply have no choice.
Just curious, on what basis do you consider the iOS keyboard to be "one of the best?" Other than the relatively recently implemented and very limited predictive abilities, the iOS keyboard is otherwise no different than it was 6 years ago.
At the same time, on the Android side you have stuff like Swiftkey (my personal favorite), Swipe (many swear by it) and even the stock Android OS keyboard has come a long way recently. Have you tried any of these?
For me, typing a text or an email on my iPhone 5 is actually a chore, and while dictating generally works, it is often inconvenient (and even when convenient, often the Android dictation is more accurate for me).
I still hope that Swiftkey and other alternatives will be allowed by Apple -- I don't see what they can lose by allowing them in (but can see them losing users if they do not).
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Without a doubt the most significant piece of news is game controller support. Apple just turned Apple TV into a game console. I just wish they made this move 1-2 years ago when iPhones were dominating and the mobile gaming market was exploding, they could have road that wave hard and far.
It's a move they now had to make, by the end of the year there will be like a dozen Apple TV style boxes that support and play android Apps.
With mobile processing power growing exponentially, they can seriously threaten the markets dominated by consoles.
I love me some consoles, just preordered both a PS4 and Xbox One but would, looooove Apple to get in there and create a channel for many more indie gaming experiences like Journey (perfect for mobile) to become available to many more people.
It's a move they now had to make, by the end of the year there will be like a dozen Apple TV style boxes that support and play android Apps.
With mobile processing power growing exponentially, they can seriously threaten the markets dominated by consoles.
I love me some consoles, just preordered both a PS4 and Xbox One but would, looooove Apple to get in there and create a channel for many more indie gaming experiences like Journey (perfect for mobile) to become available to many more people.
Why are there two controller layouts? One has analog joysticks + 4 shoulder buttons, and LED indicators, the other one doesn't have any joysticks, 2 less shoulder buttons, and no LED indicators. Developers will now have to support three+ control schemes? Seems a lot of work.
Apple should have kept it simple and had only one control layout.
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I think more so Nintendo since Apple and Nintendo compete for the same casual gamer market.
Apple should have kept it simple and had only one control layout.
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I think more so Nintendo since Apple and Nintendo compete for the same casual gamer market.
There are a number of apps I use that run in the background; various gps apps, skype, tune-in radio. Sometimes I open a number of gps apps in one session, among other programs. Currently, I do need to close them individually, swiping through others I'm not particularly interested in closing. It would be easier to have an overall kill switch.
And no, I don't typically otherwise make a point of "closing" my apps.
Finally no more watered down games on IOS. It's about time.
except for nintendo. their 1p's is what sells their systems. Unless nintendo starts selling their games in the app store which i doubt.
except for nintendo. their 1p's is what sells their systems. Unless nintendo starts selling their games in the app store which i doubt.
The controller support is very interesting, as it's an API that could be leveraged to enable gaming on Apple TV; it could be a smart move, letting developers build games for controllers now, meaning it would be easy to port them to Apple TV later on.
Especially interesting if iOS itself can later be made to function as a compatible controller via an app
Especially interesting if iOS itself can later be made to function as a compatible controller via an app
Now just open up the
TV to the appstore and let us play our games on it with a dedicated controllerThat will utterly Kill the Wii U and Nintendo may have to do a Sega and become a third party publisher..... I drool at the idea of Zelda as an iOS app
PS4 for hardcore games, Apple TV for casual games that i can transport from big screen to phone and back.
All we need now is the next gen iPad and iPhone to have glasses free 3D screens
One interesting thing to note about game controllers, is that Nintendo's patent for the cross-shaped D-Pad recently expired. (Which is IMHO the best D-Pad implementation for use with platform games).
Note how Nintendo's competitors always had to design their D-Pad in a way to avoid patent issues.
The XBone is the first mainstream console that has a controller that uses the same kind of D-Pad as Nintendo, the only difference is that it's curved inward to be more comfortable.
So let's hope that companies know that and will make nice controllers with Nintendo-like D-Pads for iOS devices!
Note how Nintendo's competitors always had to design their D-Pad in a way to avoid patent issues.
The XBone is the first mainstream console that has a controller that uses the same kind of D-Pad as Nintendo, the only difference is that it's curved inward to be more comfortable.
So let's hope that companies know that and will make nice controllers with Nintendo-like D-Pads for iOS devices!
iBeacons
It seems likely that the Bluetooth Beacon API could just as easily be interchangeable with an RFID sensor instead. Each beacon has a unique token, which, when detected, allows for an action to be triggered. It seems like this gives more heft to the argument that the addition of RFID to mobile hardware will be sooner than later. This will also greatly improve indoor location detection inside malls/airports/large stores.
Anyone know more about Bluetooth beacons/RFID?
It seems likely that the Bluetooth Beacon API could just as easily be interchangeable with an RFID sensor instead. Each beacon has a unique token, which, when detected, allows for an action to be triggered. It seems like this gives more heft to the argument that the addition of RFID to mobile hardware will be sooner than later. This will also greatly improve indoor location detection inside malls/airports/large stores.
Anyone know more about Bluetooth beacons/RFID?
Not sure what you want exactly. But iOS already supports keyboards...
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4112
I were talking virtual keyboards
iOS does not support alternative virtual keyboards. Ans as of now, the iOS keyboard is nowhere nearly as good as either Swype, SwiftKey Flow or SlideIt.
Of course, iOS is compatible with bluetooth keyboards (Apple's or a couple of Logitech ones), but that isn't the point I'm arguing.
What I'm lamenting is Apple's resolve to stick to their dated technology instead of adopting anything like this. Everyone from ShapeWriter to Nuance to SlideIt have been lining up for the chance to have AAPL integrate their technology into its mobile OS or at least to open up the OS to enable their respective input solutions to work system-wide within iOS, but Apple has remained as headstrong in its arrogant resort to stay away from technology that makes more sense than their own, outdated, inefficient brainchild, as they come across so rather often.
iOS does not support alternative virtual keyboards. Ans as of now, the iOS keyboard is nowhere nearly as good as either Swype, SwiftKey Flow or SlideIt.
Of course, iOS is compatible with bluetooth keyboards (Apple's or a couple of Logitech ones), but that isn't the point I'm arguing.
What I'm lamenting is Apple's resolve to stick to their dated technology instead of adopting anything like this. Everyone from ShapeWriter to Nuance to SlideIt have been lining up for the chance to have AAPL integrate their technology into its mobile OS or at least to open up the OS to enable their respective input solutions to work system-wide within iOS, but Apple has remained as headstrong in its arrogant resort to stay away from technology that makes more sense than their own, outdated, inefficient brainchild, as they come across so rather often.
We also use Good at work. Knowing the speed at which their iOS development team operates, expect this enhancement in the year 2017.